Causes Of Bulging Eyes

Graves' Disease Bulging Eyes

Graves' disease and eyes Graves opthalmopathy is an eye problem associated with Graves’ disease, which is a form of hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid. Graves opthalmopathy often causes irritation, pain, swelling, and double vision. In approximately 50 percent of patients with Graves’ disease, it also causes a noticeable protrusion of the eyes which many people describe as "bulging eyes."

Graves’ disease is caused when antibodies attack the thyroid gland, but instead of destroying the thyroid, they stimulate the thyroid cells to make too much of the thyroid hormone thyroxine. Graves' ophthalmopathy occurs when the same antibodies that attack the thyroid also attack the eyes. Research in the last few decades revealed that the antibodies don't attack the eyes themselves, but rather a specific part of a protein in the cells behind the eyes. This specific protein is also found in the thyroid. The specific cells being attacked are known orbital preadipocytes.

English actor Marty Feldman is one of the better known celebrities who suffered from Graves' ophthalmopathy, and his bulging eyes often led to wacky or offbeat roles such as Igor (pronounced EYE-gore) in Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein.

Graves' ophthalmopathy treatment  Symptoms of Graves' ophthalmopathy may be mild or severe. Mild symptoms can be managed by using artificial tears liberally during the day and lubricating gels at night. If your symptoms are more severe, the following treatments may be appropriate.

Radioactive iodine treatment This reduces decreases hyperthyroidism by destroying thyroid cells. It can be taken orally as a capsule or in water. Radioactive iodine (RAI) is usually the first treatment given to those with Graves' disease. Many patients prefer it to surgery (which may have complications) or antithyroid drugs (see below), which have a 50 percent relapse rate.

Medications such as prescription corticosteroids may reduce swelling behind your eyeballs.

Orbital decompression surgery allows more space for the eyes to move back to their original position. This, however, can produce side effects like double vision and lip numbness.

Eye muscle surgery is a procedure in which the doctor cuts the muscle where it attaches to the eyeball and then reattaches it farther back. More than one procedure may be necessary.

Prisms in the patient's glasses may correct double vision that is sometimes the result of Graves' ophthalmopathy or as a side effect of corrective surgery.

Orbital radiotherapy uses targeted X-rays over the course of several days to destroy some of the tissue behind the eyes. This treatment is no longer used as much as it was some years ago, but may be appropriate for people whose eye problems are worsening and prescription corticosteroids alone aren't effective or well tolerated. 

 

    

 

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